Refrigerating apparatus



May 22, 192s. y 1,670,756

' f A. M. THOMSON t REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed oct. 25, 1 926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gli?! Patented May 22, 1928.

Um'rao STATES PATENT- orrica.

F NEW'YOIltK, N.; Y.

EEFRIGERATING APPATUS.

Application tiled October, 1926. Serial No. 143,900.

y This invention relates to refrigeration systems, and more particularly concerns .a -refrigerating or heat absorbing nuit for use in connection with systems of this type.

In onevgeneral type of modern refrigeration system, apparatus is provided for subjecting a suitable refrigerant to a cycle of operations, the refrigerant being successively compressed, liquefied by cooling 1n 1o a' condenser, passed `through a suitable expansion valve into a refrigerating or heat absorbing unit where it is gasied, and returned again to be compressed. The heat absorbing or refrigerating unit is preferably installed in the cooling chambervof a suitable refrigerator, or is otherwise disosed in a space where it is desired to absorb ieat. In refrigeration systems of this type designed for household use, the refrigerating aounit is usually designed to serve the double purpose of cooling the refrigerator and of providing compartments ,in which liquids, desserts or other foods may be frozen. In order to accomplish these'functions, it is desirable amon other things, that the refrigerating or eat absorbing unit be con structed to present a maximum surface area for heat absorbing purposes, that the freezing compartments be surrounded by passages containin the refrigerant, and that the entire heat a sorbing unit occupy a minimum space.

One form of heat absorbing unit which has been extensively used consists, in general, cfa pair of horizontally disposed vertically spaced drums or headersconnected by two or more rows of vertical pipes or tubes, which rows .are spaced .apart to form a freezin compartment therebetween. This type o unit presents a large heatl absorbing surface, but has certain disadvantageous features. Because of the large number of pipe connections which must be made, the assembling of a unit of this ty e is a slow andl expensive process, and the ished unit Y is of a rather weak and non-rigid construction and is therefore likel to develop leaks.

With the above and Vot er considerations in mind, it is proposed in accordance with the 'present invention to provide a novel form of heat absorbing unit for refriglerationsystems, and more particularly it is proposed to provide a heat absorbing unit of this type which -oers a maximum heat absorbing :surface area and which is of rigid and simple construction,

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a heat absorbin unit of greatly improved and simplifie design, which unit may for this reason be inexpen- 'sively and readily manufacturedv andy assembled.

It is a lstill further object of the present invention to provide a unit of this type which is formed of a minimum'n'umber of parts. v

Other specific objects, advantages and characteristic features .of the present invention will become apparent as'the description thereof'progresses.-

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be. made to the' accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the heat absorbin unit of the present invention, certain parts being' broken away to show the interior construction thereof; v

Figure 2 is a sectional view" taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fi r'e 3 is a sectional view takenv along the line 3-.3 of Figure 2; and l Figure4 is a fra entary view of a nddilied embodiment o the present invention.

.The refrigerating unit of the present ini vention comprises 1n general-a plurality of rows of substantially vertical channels or passages for carrying the refrigerant, which rows of passages are formed to V enclose a number of freezing compartments, togetherf with suitable cross channels for admitting 90 the refrigerant to the vertical channels and an upper drum or header to which the up er ends .of the vertical channels are suitably connected and through which the refrigerant is conducted'away from the unit. -95

Referring to the drawings, the vheat @absorbing unit of the present invention includes a cylindrical drum or header 1 which is disposed horizontally and is provided with a suitable removable cover orhead 2, secured to one end thereof bythe bolts 3, as shown, a gasketb'eing pnovided to insure a tight closure.. A large metallic body 5 is preferably enclosed within the header v1 for the purpose of absorbing heat'when the re- 10|, frigeration system is notin operation, as

' June 10, 1927. The head 2 of the drum'l this valve.

is provided with an enlarged portion 6 carrying two outlet pipe connections 7 and' 8, a cut-oli' valve V, and, on the inner face thereof, a swivel mechanism 9 carrying an outlet pipe 10 supported-by a float 11. The cut-off valve V may take any suitable form, and as shown,` comprises a' valve stem 12 surrounded along its outer portion by the packingmaterial 13 andec'arrying a gate or plug 14 for co-operation with the opening 15 leading to the swivel mechanism 9. The outer 4end of the valve stem 12 is preferably enclosed by a cap`16 to prevent any unauthorized or accidental manipulation of As the swivelmechanism 9 and the float supported outlet, pipe 10 form no part of the present invention and are fully 'described in my `(ro-appended' application,`

.identified above, they will not be described herein, it being'suiiicient in connection with the resent invention to understand that `the refrlgerant is conducted out of the header 1 throughy the pipe 10 and the swivel mechanf 1 on the sections A, B and C, are provided to ism 9. The cylindrical wall of the headerl 1 is provided with three rows of equally spaced openings ,17, extending .from end to -end thereof. Two of these rows of o enings 17 are located on the sides of the hea er 1 along 1 y a horizontal plane through the axis thereo and the third row'extends along the lower 5 face of the cylindrical wall as most clearly shownin Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now more particularly to the* 4construction of the circulating passages which comprises an important part of the present invention, these passages iare formed by three co-operating plates or` sections A,

. B and C, made of a suitable heat conducting metal such as steel.

what trough shaped, having a substantially U-shaped cross section 'as shown in Fi re 2. The two vertical walls 18 and 19 of t e seetion A are turned toward each other at their upper ends to form'the horizontalextensions C are substantially-identical and have/the general form of open` or incomplete cylinders, their inner walls 22 lying in co-operating relation at thecenter of the unit, and their lower and` outer walls 23 and 24 lying in co-operating relation with the walls 18 and 19of`the section-A. The sections A, B and C are provided with a plurality o f equallyv spaced, parallel, semi-circular grooves or depressions 25 which coro crate,

when the sections are .placed toget er as.

shown, to form a lurahty of .tubular passages as shown in Figures'l and 2. The outer and lower walls 24 and 23 of the sections B andv C co-operate respective ly with the outer vwalls 18-and 19 and the lower wall 26 of the The section Ais some-y The sections B andnovena-e section A to fdrm the verticalside passages' 27 land the horizontal lower passa e 28, while the inner walls of the sections and C co-operate to form .the vertical central .passage 29.l The sections A, B and C are preferably secured together along the plane surface 30 thereof between the grooves 25 by means of spot welding or .by any other suitable process. tions need not be tight except at the edges thereof, where the co-operating sections may be soldered, crimped over one' another or otherwise suitably secured together to form these openings 1n communication with the 4rows of o enlngs 17 therein.

formino t e passages 27 and 29.preferably extend obeyond the ends of the header las shown in Figure 1, and diagonal passages v31 and 32, formed by co-operating rooves connect the vertical passagesat the extreme ends of the lunit with the header 1'. p

An internally threaded coupler 33 is suitably secured to an opening 34 in the center of the lower wall 26 of the section A. An angle tting 35 is preferably provided to connecta Asuitable inlet pipe 36 to this coupler, and in the vembodiment shown, a valve T of suitable construction is provided to control the flow of refrigerant tothe heat absorbing unit through the angle fitting 35.v

As shown, this valve T is of a construction similar to that of the valve Vat the outlet of the header 1, having a stem 37, a packing The joints between the sec-l The sections means 38: and a suitable cap 39. enclosing the operating end ,of the stem.

The vertical walls of the sections B and .C are provided with a plurality of eqally spaced oppositely disposed extensions or brackets 40. These brackets lmay be formed -in any desired manner, but are preferably pressed out of the sheet material forming the sections B and C on the surfaces of t-he semi-circular grooves 25 thereon'. The brackets 40 are arranged to carry a plurality of horizontal partitions or shelves 41 for the receptionof drawers, com artments or other containers in which liqui s or desserts may be frozen. -The upper-most of the partitions 41 serve to .separate thel freezing chamber from the header, and these partitions arel preferably la 4ged or covered with a suit-vv able heat insu ating material 42. v This layer of heat insulating material between the freezing chamber and the header 1 serves to prevent the transmission of heat from the header to the freezing chamber, the header being-.normally at a slightly higher temperature than the freezing Fchamber while the system is in operation.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figure 4, the, sheet metal sections. of the re'frigerating unit, portions of two of which are shown 1n the iigure, are formed with substantially semi-circular cross grooves or depressions 43 connecting the grooves 25 therein, the co-operating sections being Welded or otherwise secured to ether at lthe spaced plane surfaces 44. This construction forms a plurality of cross channels or pas-- vsages at right angles to each other, the edges 45 of the sections being in continuous communication and being suitably sealed togather.` By using three oo-operating sec tions of this construction in place of the sections A, B and C described above, a heat absorbing unit is provided in which the refrigerant may circulate in horizontal as well as vertical planes ins all ofthe Walls thereof. This construction permits a more Vthorough circulation of the refrigerant, and.

thereby equalizes thel temperature of the heat absorbing surfaces of the unit toa slightly higher degree than does the construction of Figure 2.

In the operat-ion of the heat absorbing unit of the present invention, the refrigerant, in liquefied form, isadinitted through the angle fitting and the valve'l to the point where the'lower horizontal passages and the 'central' vertical'passage 29 communicate.

l l The'liquid refrigerant circulates through the The circulating passages of the unit are,`

i passages 27, 28 and 29, absorbing heat fromvthe walls of the sections A, B and C and/ thus absorbing heat from the cooling chamber in which the 'unit is installed. As, the temperature of the refrigerant rises the refrigerant passes up through thepassages -27 and 29 into the header `1. The absorption of heat by the refrigerant causes the boiling thereof, and in 'this manner lthe refrigerant becomes gasilied and passes olf through the outlet pipe 10, the swivel mech- -anism 9 and the outlet pipe connection 8,

the system being preferably designed to maintain the liquid level at some point within the header l;

lhe construction of the heat absorbing unit of the present invention presents many obvious structural and operating advantages.

formed of'only three separate sections, and these sections may be quickly secured in cooperating relation by a simple process such as ot welding. The sections may be quic y and cheaply pressed or .stamped from sheet metal and due to their corrugated or grooved formation .they provide afvery .strong and rigid construction, the

joints of which are not likely .t0 become loosened by rough handling duringinstallation.

The unit of the' present invention'. provides a very large area. for heaty nection with one specific construction, it.

should be understood that the invention is not limited in its scope to the exact con' 'struction shown, and that many changes,

modifications and additions may be made Without departing from" the sco e of the iinvention' as defined by the appen ed claims.

I claim:

l. In `a heat absorbing unit, a plurality ofv sections of grooved sheet material cooperating` to form aplurality of rows oi` vertical passages connected by rows of horizontal passages, the number of sections employed being equal to the number of ver-v tical rows of passages. l

2. In a heat absorbing unit, three coopera-tingsections of grooved sheetmaterial forming three spacedl rows of circulating passages and two communicating rows of passages connecting said spaced rows of passages at one end thereof.

3. In a heat absorbing unit for refrigeration systems,n 'a large sect-ion of groove sheet material of substantially U-shaped d ico cross section and two smaller co-operating sections of grooved sheet material within said large section, said small sections c0 operating with each` other and with said large section to form three vertical rows of circulating passages connected at their ends .by horizontal rows of circulatingpassages. 4.In a heat absorbing unit, a grooved outer section of sheet metalof substantially U-shaped cross section having vertical side walls anda bottom wallytwo inner. sections.

of` grooved sheet metal within said outer section and each having vertical side walls and a horizontal bottom wall, the grooves on one of the side wallsand the bottom wall of said. inner sections co-operating with the grooves on said side and bottom walls of said outer section to form communicating outer vertical and lower horizontal rows of passages, and the grooves 'on the other side walls lof'saidinner sections (io-operating to form a central row of vertical passages coml municating with said lower horizontal row of passages.

5. In a heat absorbing 'unit'. a grooved outer section of sheet metal of substantially U-shaped cross section having vertical side walls and a bottom wall, two-inner sections of grooved sheetl metal vwithin A said' outer section and each having yertical side walls and a horizontal l)bottom wall', the grooves upper ends of said outer and central vertical rows of passages. 6. .In a heat absorbing unit for refrigeration systems, a plurality of .grooved sheet metal sections co-operating to form the walls of a plurality of spaced rows of vertical passages and the walls of a plurality/of rows of horizontal passages connecting said vertical passages, supporting means on the por tions of said sections forming the vertical walls of said passages, and partitions supported 'between said supporting means on adjacent walls of said rows of vertical passa es. l

7. n a heat absorbing unit for refrigeration systems a plurality of rows of vertical ypassages connected by rows of horizontal passages, said passages being formed of a plurality of co-operating sections offgrooved sheet metal integral supports on the adjacent walls of saidrowsof vertical passages and vertically spaced partitions carried by said sup orts.

8. In a heat a sorbing unit for refrigeration systems, a plurality of sections of grooved sheet metal co-operating to -form a plurality of spaced parallel rows of vertical passages connected by rows of horizontal passages, the number of sections employed being equal to the number of vertical rows ofA passages,V a plurality of supporting brackets formed integral with at least some of said sections forming said vertical passages, and shelves supported between said rows of vertical passages on said brackets.

9. In a'heat absorbing unit, a plurality of plates of lgrooved sheet ymaterial each cooperating with a single plate of groovedV sheet material to form a plurality of spaced parallel rows of passages, integral extensions on said plates and partitions extending between said parallel rows of passages and supported by said extensions.

l0. In a heat .absorbing unit, al plurality of sections of grooved sheet material cooperating to form a plurality of spaced verf` tical rows of passages connected in their lower ends by horizontal rows of passa es, a header connecting the upper ends yo said vertical rows of passages, a plurality of su porting brackets formed integrallyv with t e .a

walls of said vertical rows of passages, partitions supported by said brackets betweenv said vertical rows and dividing the space there-between into compartments, and a heat;

insulating partition between the uppermost of said compartments yand said header for preventing heat interchange between said eader and said compartments.

7.11. In a heat absorbing unit, a pluralityV- 'of sections of grooved sheet material cooperating to form a plurality of space d vertical. rows of passages connected at vthelr 'lower ends by horizontal rows of passages,

a header connecting the upper ends of said vertical rowsof passages, means secured to an opening in the section forming said lower horizontal passages for admitting a refrigerant vto vsaid unit, and means in said header for withdrawing said refrigerant from said v secting grooves thereon, said sections co operating to 4form' a plurality of spaced vertical walls and connecting horizontal walls, said walls containing rows of parallel intersecting passages.

14. Inga heat absorbing unit, a plurality of sections ofs sheet metal having rows of intersecting grooves thereon, saidrows being substantially at right angles to each other,

said sections co-operating to form a plurality of spaced vertical walls'andconnecting horizontal walls, and said grooves on said sections co-operating to form parallel rows of passages in said walls, said rows intersecting at substantially right angles.

15. In a heat absorbing imit, a plurality of sections of sheet metal having rows of intersecting grooves thereon, said sections cooperating to form a plurality of spaced vertical walls connected at their lower ends by horizontal walls, the number of sections used being equal to the number of vertical walls, and the grooves on said sections co-operating to form a plurality of intersecting passages in said walls, and a drum connecting the pasages in said vertical walls at their upper en s.

16. In a heat absorbing unit, three [cooperating sections of grooved sheet material Contactin with eachother at certain points,

unit, a plurality v spot wel ed together at these points, and

forming three spaced rows of circulating passages and two communicating rows of passages connecting said spapedrows of passages at one end thereof.

v 17. In a-heat absorbingv unit, 'a plurality of `sections of grooved sheet material cooper# ating to form a plurality of spaced parallel operating to y form a plurality of spaced rows of vertical passages connected by a row parallel rows of vertical passages connected of horizontal passa es, said rows of vertical at one end by a row of horizontal passages, 10

passages forming t e side walls of a pluand a separatey header connecting the other 5 -rality of compartments. f ends of said rows of vertical passages.

18. In a heat absorbing unit, a plurality In testimony whereof I'aix my signature. of sections offcorrugated'sheet material co- ALFRED M. THQMSON. 

